Trellis anchoring and equalizing means



July 9. 1968 A. ATTRUIA TRELLIS ANCHORING AND EQUALIZING MEANS Filed' May 9, 196e 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. mfl Hinzu@ July 9. 1968 A. ATTRUIA 3,391,492

TRELLIS ANCHORING AND EQUALIZING MEANS Filed May 9,1966 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENjroR. Hluello iuur T57 L. @huil HTTRNFY.

United States Patent O ice 3,391,492 TRELLIS ANCHORING AND EQUALIZING MEANS Aniello Attruia, P.O. Box 107, Seymour, Conn. 06483 Filed May 9, 1966, Ser. No. 548,625 2 Claims. (Cl. 47--47) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An anchoring and equalizing arrangement for trellises of the character incorporating a plurality `of coplan-ar, iiexible lattice members in the form of cords or wires, the end portions thereof at one end of the trellis being ixedly secured to support means in equispaced relation, the end portions of the cords or wires at the opposite end of the trellis converging in the direction of a tension equalizing member to which the cords or wires are connected through slider members, the tension equalizing member being -anchored to support means through the medium of an adjustable tensioning device whereby, when tension is applied to the trellis, -by actuation of the tensioning device, to align the same, the slider members move into stabilized positions along an arcuateshaped trackway of the tension equalizing member in accordance with the direction and lmagnitude of the horizontal components of the tensioning force developed in each of the lattice members.

Many forms of trellises are constructed of rigid strips which must be transported to the location at which they are to be used either preassembled, which presents a space problem, or in knocked down form requiring erection at the desired location, which also presents the bulk problem involving transporting. My improvement provides for an equalizer fastening means which can be packaged in a kit together with lattice forming cords and conveniently transported to the desired loc-ation for installation.

When trellises of the type included by my invention are erected by attaching the spaced upper ends of the lattice cords to a cornice or cross arm and then gathering the several ends to a common bottom point the cords are loose and irregular and give the trellis an unpleasant appearance. However, when the lower ends of the lattice cords are secured to my anchor means they can be easily tautened and adjusted to present and maintain an attractive and pleasing appearance.

Hence the primary object of my invention is to provide an lanchor means which can be conveniently transported to the desired location and conveniently attached to lattice members.

An object of my invention is to enable tension to be applied and maintained after the trellis is hooked up.

Another object of my invention is to provide a trellis anchor which more or less adjusts itself to present and maintain the trellis in an attractive and pleasing appearyance as the tension is applied.

Yet another object is to provide an anchor means which can be assembled into a kit and merchandised over the counter as it were at a low cost.

'Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l shows a vertical elevation of my invention:

FIGURE 2 shows an enlarged partial view taken on section 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view of another embodiment of my invention;

3,391,492 Patented July 9, 1968 FIGURE 4 is a somewhat enlarged view taken on section 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 shows another embodiment of my invention representing an elevation of a horizontally `disposed trellis as for instance to screen -a patio from the hot sun rays when supporting a vine; and

FIGURE 6 is a diagram to illustrate the equalizing structure.

Referring now to the drawings the numeral 10 denotes the preferred embodiment of my adjustable trellis anchor having a circular-like equ-alizing member 11. While the equalizer is shown as generally circular it is not necessarily so limited as any suitable loci formation approaching an apex will function as intended. At the lower portion of this equalizer 11 is secured a variable tension member 12 which may be a turnbuckle, but any suitable means may be used to vary the pull in the desired direction. It will be observed in referring to FIGURE 1 that one end 20 of tension member 12 is connected to equalizer 11 at its uppermost point and the opposite end 21 connected to a member 18 fixed to the ground or other stationary point, such as the foundation of a building or porch. Where no building foundation point is available I prefer to use a ground auger 18 as shown in FIGURE 1 but any suitable means may be used such as a stake, post or heavy mass of material as a rock or mass of concrete.

Referring to the upper portion of FIGURE l, it will be observed that is, the plant supporting cord members 17 constituting the lattice when taut, are secured to a cornice 28 at spaced points thereof by hooks or eyes 19 or by other suitable means. From these points as 19 the cords lconverge toward the equalizer 11 where novel means are provided for adjustably securing the lower ends of the strands.

A clamping link 22, FIGURE 7, provided With a pair of spaced holes 23 through which the cord 17 is threaded after being looped through a ring 15 which is secured to one end of tension spring 14. This ring 15 may be formed integral with tension spring 14 if desired. The opposite end of tension spring 14 is secured to a slider member 13 which is free to slide along the curved inner surface of equalizer 11.

In erecting my trellis I first secure the upper hooks or eyes 19, FIGURE 1, to the cornice 28 either directly or to a horizontal strip or other structural member which in turn is secured to the building. Then I insert the ground auger 18 to which the turnbuckle 12 is attached together with the equalizer 11 and the sliders 13 mounted thereon.

Then I connect the center top hook 19 and the center tension spring 14 together with the desired length of cord making it reasonably tight as may be done by manually adjusting the clamping link 22.

In the same manner I assemble the two outside cords and then the remaining cords.

The structure now presents a reasonably g-ood appearance with the adjustments which I have been able to make by hand manipulation of the clamp links but it is not taut. After this is completed I then apply tension by means of the turnbuckle 12.

As the tension is applied by the turnbuckle 12, the sliders 13 automatically slide along the equalizer ring 11 and any irregularities in the tensions of the individual lattice cords are further compensated by the individual springs 14 so that when properly tautened the trellis 10 now presents a pleasing appearance and is properly aligned to the plant or vine which it is to support.

In my preferred embodiment I show the individual springs 14 secured to the sliders 13 at the lower end of the cords as in FIGURE 1, these springs 14 may be located at the upper ends as shown in FIGURE 3.

The operation -of the equalizing means can be more clearly understood by referring to FIGURE 6.

Having applied tension to the trellis 10 by means of the turnbuckle 12, the downward component of force on cord OP is represented by vector OA, the resulting tension in the cord including its spring 14 is represented by vector OC and the horizontal component by vector OB. There would obviously be a tendency for the trellis to swing to the left as viewed in FIGURE 6 if it was not for an equal and opposite horizontal component of vector EF which has the effect of stabilizing the trellis.

Suppose for example the cord occupies the position shown as 01B Without any lengthening of the strand per se the difference being offset by the spring 14, FIGURES l and 3. It will at once be obvious that the horizontal component 01B1 is greater than EF due to the increased tension in OlP with result that the trellis would be moved out of line to the left. However, by moving the slider 13 to the position O the horizontal component Will be as shown OB and the system is in balance. This movement may be automatic or may be moved by hand depending on the nature of the cooperative surfaces.

Another embodiment or my trellis is shown in FIGURE 3 where a post 26 is used in lieu of a building with cornice and ground auger.

In FIGURE 5 another embodiment is shown where the trellis is placed in a horizontal position. to act as a ceiling for a patio.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a trellis of the character incorporating a plurality of exible coplanar lattice members disposed between a first support member and a second support member, the portions of the lattice members at one end of the trellis be- 4 ing iixedly secured in spaced relation to the first support member, the portions of the lattice members at the opposite end of the trellis converging in the direction of the second support member; the improvement comprising anchoring and stabilizing means for connecting the converging portions of the lattice members to said second support member, said anchoring and stabilizing means, comprising an equalizing member having an arcuate-shaped, continuous trackway, a plurality of slider members slidably mounted on said trackway, the converging ends of the respective lattice members being connected to said slider members, and an adjustable tensioning device connected to the equalizing member and to the second support member, whereby when tension is applied to the trellis to align the same, by actuation of the adjustable tensioning device, the slider members move into stabilized positions along the trackway of the equalizing member in accordance with the direction and the magnitude severally of the horizontal components of the tensioning force developed in the respective lattice members.

2. In a trellis in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lattice members are in the form of cords or Wires, the portions of the lattice at one end of the trellis are lixedly secured in equispaced relation to the first support member, and resilient means connect the converging end portions ofthe lattice members to the sliders.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 68,475 9/1867 Whitney 47--45 907,799 12/1908 Hawley 52-157 2,426,768 9/1947 Farmer et al 24-73.05 2,915,276 12/1959 Lindmark 248-361 3,229,952 1/1966 Zumbo 287--61 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

S. C. PELLEGRINO, Assistant Examiner. 

